Paul Bennett

Cook

My name is Chef Bennett also known as Paul Bennett From Jamaica, the qualifications that I have received while attending Kingston Technical High School had nothing at all to do with the culinary arts, in fact i did Auto Mechanics. I am not the person that everyone hope for me to be while attending high school. Things even worst when I move out my mother’s house at age 14, moved in with my aunt but I had to basically finish supporting myself to school, so I started working on buses as a conductor at night and students in the daytime to finish high school. I left with mathematics, English language and general knowledge all in City and Guilds then became a security at a supermarket in Kingston where a Chef by the name of Shelley who convinced me to leave my job and start working as her assistant in the kitchen and that’s where I found my true love and passion for food . She even encourage me to get certified in the field. I then went to Boys’ Town vocational training center where I received Level 1 2 and 3 in food preparation and add to that got recruited by Executive Chef Akeeli Dixon whom gave an opportunity to grow as a chef. While working for Chef Akeeli he introduced me to Chef Oji Jaja who has always been a mentor for me. Time passed then I went to iberostar Hotel in Montego Bay as a Kitchen helper, I worked hard to prove to people that I knew and love my career. I got two promotions in less than three months and was even appointed, few months passes and I gave in my resignation letter because I got a Sous Chef position at

the Grand Port Royal Hotel in Kingston where I now reside. My take on African Gastronomy is surrounded by a lot local Inspired dishes with a twist, which shows growth and versatility in the African Chef and that is what I can relate to. Personally I love classical cooking because it’s the Base for gastronomy and without knowing the classic we can’t call ourselves Chefs.